One Foot In Front Of The Other

Those of you who've followed me over here from Hollywood Sucker (all 8 of you) might recall that I have an on and off love affair with running. I've always imagined that I am the sort of person who runs great distances with great ease, but my attempts to go from fantasy to reality have always fallen short. A while back I set out to run a half marathon, training with a charity organization to raise money. But long before race day I became irritated with the charity and quit, only to regroup and instead run a 10k a few months later. Unfortunately I didn't keep the momentum going, and by that summer I opted out of the 15k I'd planned to run, instead running the 5k option. Just when I thought I couldn't let myself down any more, I tried to run a 5k again about 5 months later (having failed to exercise in any way for a very long time) and thought I was going to die.

I wondered if perhaps I just wasn't cut out for such a hobby. Yet in spite of my own failures, I'd some how managed to inspire my mother to start running. Now she's running 3 miles a day, as skinny as I've ever seen her, and repeatedly running races --often winning them in her age group.

Her success and energy made me realize I needed to give this dream of mine one more chance. And 2 months after that realization, I actually got started. So I dug up the nike+ for my iPod that Devin bought me, ordered myself a brand new pair of Nikes, and went to Target to stock up on clothes to make me look like a real runner.

Then, because I'm clearly obsessed with Nike, I signed up for a training program through their website. Every week I get a new schedule that tells me how far I have to run on each day, and when I get much appreciated days off.



I started out running 3 miles, then I was up to 4, then 5, and this passed Saturday I ran 6 miles. 6 whole miles! And I have no idea if it's my determination or my fancy new wardrobe, but it isn't even that difficult. And for some crazy reason I actually look forward to waking up at 7 to run 5 miles before going to work.

Now, like anyone who's recently jumped into a new hobby, I'm becoming really annoying. Ask me what I've been up to lately, and I just might tell you. I've been running. Yaddi yadda, yaddi yadda. I can't imagine how fed up my friends are going to get. (Though it can't be as bad as my wedding planning verbal diarrhea.)

I tried to avoid overextending myself when setting new running goals, but I've already outlined a plan to re-try the 15k this summer, then run a half marathon in October, and then by next March, the LA marathon. Yes, I said it. The marathon! Who knows if I'll ever get that far, but I like to think it's possible.

And just for a bonus, I'll include the little Nike avatar I made of myself. I don't know... I just think she's snazzy.